12
bulky item pickups per garbage cart per calendar year, no monthly limit
2 days
minimum notice before your collection day; label each item 'Bulky'
$30
plus tax per item beyond your yearly allotment
Every route for a hot tub in Saint Paul, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Saint Paul guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Saint Paul, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Saint Paul bulky item collection: hot tubs
Free, with a step firstA broken-down tub counts as several bulky items; confirm with your hauler. Most people hire a crew.
Who qualifies: Properties with 1 to 4 units in the city's coordinated garbage program (and properties that opted in). Buildings of 5 or more units arrange bulky pickups with their private hauler.
How to schedule: Every garbage cart comes with 12 bulky item pickups per calendar year, with no monthly limit. Schedule with your assigned hauler or through the city at 651-266-6101 (garbage@ci.stpaul.mn.us) at least 2 business days before your collection day, and label each item 'Bulky'. Extra items are $30 plus tax each on your garbage bill.
Limits: 12 bulky items per cart per year (prorated if a cart was not active all year). Items within 10 feet of your cart are assumed to be set out for pickup.
Set-out: At your regular cart location on your collection day, labeled 'Bulky', not blocking the alley or sidewalk.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Saint Paul: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering hot tubs, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Saint Paul: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Saint Paul, Minnesota (#68 nationally) operates one of the most generous bulk pickup programs in the country. Starting April 2025: every household with 1 to 4 units gets one free bulky item pickup per unit, per calendar month, included with regular garbage service. Additional items cost $30 each. The City coordinates collection through a consortium of private haulers under contract with FCC Environmental (April 1, 2025 onward); each address is assigned to a specific hauler. Recycling is funded through Ramsey County property taxes. The annual 2026 recycling fee is $172.75 per unit (1 to 4 unit properties). Mattresses are recycled separately and unlimited at no charge by Second Chance Recycling. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Saint Paul residents.
The Saint Paul rule for hot tubs: A broken-down tub counts as several bulky items; confirm with your hauler. Most people hire a crew.
Program basics: 12 bulky items per cart per year (prorated if a cart was not active all year). Items within 10 feet of your cart are assumed to be set out for pickup. At your regular cart location on your collection day, labeled 'Bulky', not blocking the alley or sidewalk.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (Ramsey County sites), construction debris, and tires on rims. Check with your hauler on item-specific prep.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Saint Paul Public Works: Bulky Item Collection. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Saint Paul. Ramsey County operates the regional HHW facility for Saint Paul residents. Free with proof of county residency.
Why hot tubs are different from ordinary bulk. Hot tubs combine multiple disposal challenges in one item: weight (a typical 6-person hot tub weighs 300 to 500 lbs empty, 3,000+ lbs filled), size (typically 7 to 8 ft square or larger), specialized utilities (220V electrical, dedicated plumbing connections), and assembly complexity (rigid acrylic shell, foam insulation, frame, decorative skirt, jets, pumps, heaters).
Three mistakes that get hot tubs left at the curb:
For households without time or equipment for DIY disassembly:
Specialized Hot Tub Removal Services
$300 to $1,200Many local junk removal companies have hot-tub-specific service lines. Search “hot tub removal [your city]” for specialists. Pricing ranges $300 to $1,200 depending on size, complexity (above-ground vs. in-ground), and access (basement hot tubs cost more due to stair handling). Always get 2 to 3 quotes, pricing varies dramatically by region.
LoadUp paid hot tub pickup
$80+For Saint Paul households needing in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), or apartment residents at 5+ unit properties, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Twin Cities for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your hot tub. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book hot tub pickup in Saint Paul with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Saint Paul proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Saint Paul junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national hot tub disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Saint Paul: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Saint Paul pick up hot tubs for free?
Confirm with your hauler. Most people hire a crew.
How much does paid hot tub removal cost in Saint Paul?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single hot tub pickup in Saint Paul starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Saint Paul households needing in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), or apartment residents at 5+ unit properties, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Twin Cities for upfront-priced pickup.
How much does professional hot tub removal cost?
Typical pricing ranges $300 to $800 for above-ground hot tubs, $500 to $1,200+ for in-ground or hard-to-access installations. The cost reflects 3 to 6 hours of labor with multiple crew members, specialized equipment for disassembly, electrical and plumbing disconnects, and disposal fees. Always get 2 to 3 quotes, prices vary significantly by region and accessibility.
Can I sell a non-working hot tub?
Sometimes. Non-working hot tubs occasionally find buyers who want them for: (1) Repair and resale, some buyers fix and flip. (2) Parts, the pumps, heaters, and jets have resale value separate from the shell. (3) Scrap metal, the frame contains 50 to 150 lbs of steel. List on Craigslist Free section or Facebook Marketplace at $0 with details about what works and what doesn’t. The key benefit even at $0: the buyer handles removal, saving you $300 to $800 in paid hauler fees.
Can I just drain it and leave it for trash collection?
Generally no. Most U.S. cities explicitly exclude hot tubs from regular bulk pickup because of weight (300+ lbs even drained) and size. A hot tub left at the curb without confirmed pickup will sit there, accumulate code enforcement notices, and may result in fines that exceed the cost of paid removal. Always check your city’s rules before any DIY approach, the city section above has summaries.
Do I need a permit to remove a hot tub?
For above-ground hot tubs, no permit is typically required for removal, just for installation. For in-ground hot tubs, removal may require a permit because of the excavation and electrical work involved. Some HOAs also require notification or approval for hot tub removal, especially if visible from common areas. Check with your municipality and HOA before starting work, and confirm with your removal service that they’ll handle any required permits as part of their pricing.
Is this Saint Paul page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Saint Paul guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
